Occupant-propelled vehicle

ABSTRACT

A miniature occupant-propelled surface vehicle. The vehicle includes a chassis formed of a body of sheet material which includes a seat as well as front and rear pairs of tubular portions and an intermediate pair of tubular portions. A front wheel assembly is operatively connected with the chassis at its front tubular portions, a rear wheel assembly is operatively connected with the chassis at its rear tubular portions, and an operator-actuated drive means is operatively connected with the chassis at its intermediate tubular portions. A transmission extends from the operator-actuated drive means to the rear wheel assembly for rotating the latter, and this transmission is situated at an elevation at least as high as the seat of the chassis. The chassis has an inner side wall portion extending upwardly from the seat at one side thereof and an outer side wall portion which is spaced from this inner side wall portion to define therewith a space through which the transmission extends to the rear wheel assembly.

United States Patent 1 Lohr et al.

[ 51 Feb. 27, 1973 OCCUPANT-PROPELLED VEHICLE [75] Inventors: Raymond J.Lohr; Calvin S. Cook,

both of Erie, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Louis Marx & Co., New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1970 21 Appl. N0.Z 60,540

52 us. Cl. ..280/261, 280/269, 280/282, 280/].11 R, 280/96, 296/31 P,296/28 B [S 1] Int. Cl. ..B62m 1/02 [58] Field of Search..280/267, 268,269, 1.11, 87.01, 280/282, 261, 96; 46/222, 223; 296/31 R [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,986,400 5/ 1961 Phillips..280/269 X 3,052,486 9/1962 Malmquist ....280/l.1l A 1,410,245 3/1922Enache ..280/261 1,088,185 2/1914 Swender ..280/287 X 3,551,003 6/1968Ol-lara ..280/282 X 2,633,378 3/1953 Kraeft ....296/28 B 2,696,38712/1954 Nordin ..280/282 X 647,896 4/1900 Crandall 280/8701 X 576,746 2/1897 Spangler ..280/261 X Primary Examinerl(enneth H. Betts AssistantExaminer]ohn P. Silverstrim Att0rneyBlum, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan[57] ABSTRACT A miniature occupant-propelled surface vehicle. Thevehicle includes a chassis formed of a body of sheet material whichincludes a seat as well as front and rear pairs of tubular portions andan intermediate 'pair of tubular portions. A front wheel assembly isoperatively connected with the chassis at its front tubular portions, arear wheel assembly is operatively connected with the chassis at itsrear tubular portions, and an operator-actuated drive means isoperatively connected with the chassis at its intermediate tubularportions. A transmission extends from the operator-actuated drive meansto the rear wheel assembly for rotating the latter, and thistransmission is situated at an elevation at least as high as the seat ofthe chassis. The chassis has an inner side wall portion extendingupwardly from the seat at one side thereof and an outer side wallportion which is spaced from this inner side wall portion to definetherewith a space through which the transmission extends to the rearwheel assembly.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEB 3,718,344

SHEET 1 or 3 50 64 ATTORNEY PAIENTEBFEBZYIQYF: 71 344 SHEET 2 BF 3INVENTORS RAYMOND J. LQHR CALVIN $.COOK BY ATTORNEYS PATENTEB 3.7 18,344

SHEET 3 0F 3 70 INVENTORS RAYMOND J. LOHR CALVIN S.COOK

a l BY II, MW m 74 ATTORNEYS Y OCCUPANT-PROPELLED VEHICLE BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to miniature vehicles.

In particular, the present invention relates to miniature road vehiclesadapted to be propelled by the occupant of the vehicle.

Vehicles of this general type are of course well known so that children,for example, may seat themselves in such a vehicle and propel thevehicle, deriving in this way not only entertainment but also exerciseand education, as well as developing coordination.

The presently known vehicles of this general type suffer from severaldrawbacks. On the one hand they are relatively expensive to manufacture.On the other hand, they are made up of a multiplicity of componentswhich require considerable amount of skill to assemble properly. Bearingin mind that it is customary at the present time to sell articles ofthis type in a broken down condition so that the final consumer mustassemble the components in his own home, then it is clear that withpresent day constructions a considerable inconvenience and disadvantageis involved in the known constructions.

A further drawback of vehicles of the above general type is that theoccupant necessarily is required to be seated at an undesirably highelevation. The reason for this is that the transmission of the vehicleis required to extend from the front toward the rear, and a considerableamount of clearance is required beneath the seat so as to properlyaccommodate the transmission. The disadvantage of these arrangements isthat on the one hand the miniature vehicle does not simulate to thedesired extent actual vehicles, and on the other hand the center ofgravity of the vehicle is undesirably high, so that the safety factor isnot as yet as might be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a vehicle of the above general type whichwill avoid the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide avehicle of the above type which is less ex pensive than conventionalvehicles of the above type.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle ofthe above general type which can be readily and easily assembled even byunskilled persons without even requiring any special tools.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a constructionof this type which after it is assembled will nevertheless provide arugged safe vehicle.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide aconstruction where the seat for the occupant of the vehicle can besituated at a relatively low elevation so that the simulation to actualvehicles is more closely achieved and the safety factor is enhanced.

According to the invention the vehicle includes a body of sheet materialwhich forms the chassis. The chassis not only includes the seat for theoccupant but also a pair of front tubular portions, a pair of reartubular portions, and a pair of intermediate tubular portions. A frontwheel assembly is operatively connected to the chassis at the fronttubular portions thereof, a

rear wheel assembly is operatively connected to the chassis at the reartubular portions thereof, and a rotary drive means, to be actuated bythe occupant of the vehicle, is operatively connected to theintermediate tubular portions of the chassis. A transmission meansextends from the rotary drive means rearwardly to the rear wheelassembly. The chassis has an inner side wall portion extending upwardlyfrom the seat at one side thereof and an outer side wall portion spacedfrom the inner side wall portion and defining therewith a space throughwhich the transmission extends from the drive means to the rear wheelassembly, so that in this way the transmission is situated at least atan elevation as high as the seat itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings which form part of this applicationand in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustration, schematicallyrepresenting a vehicle according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the vehicle, as seen when looking towardthe underneath thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing, on an enlargedscale as compared to FIG. 2, how the rear wheel assembly is attached tothe chassis, FIG. 3 being taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 in the directionof the arrow;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the structure of FIG. 3 taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow;

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view of the structure of FIG. 3 taken alongline 55 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation of part of the structure ofFIG. 3 taken along line 66 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale ascompared to FIG. 2, taken along line 77 of FIG. 2 in the direction ofthe arrows and illustrating how the transmission extends along thechassis;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale as comparedto FIG. 2, taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 2, and illustrating how therotary drive means is carried by the chassis;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on an enlarged scaleas compared to FIG. 2, along line 9- 9 of FIG. 2 in the direction of thearrows, and illustrating how the front wheel assembly is mounted;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line l0l0 ofFIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing, on an enlarged scaleas compared to FIG. 2, how the front wheel assembly is mounted andactuated by the steering means; and

FIG. 1 l is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional elevation taken alongline 11-11 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing, on anenlarged scale as compared to FIG. 2, how the steering means is mountedon the vehicle and actuated.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, theminiature vehicle 20 of the present invention, shown in its entirety inFIG. 2 and in an exploded view in FIG. 1, includes a chassis 22. Thischassis 22 is in the form of a one-piece body of molded plastic sheetmaterialextending all the way from the front to the rear of the vehicleand including a seat 24 for accommodating the occupant of the vehicle.Suitable belts 26 extend across the side walls of the chassis whichextend upwardly from the seat. One of these side walls 28 is shown inFIG. 7. Thus the side wall 28 shown in FIG. 7 forms an inner side wallof the chassis extending upwardly from the seat 24 thereof, and thechassis includes also an outer side wall 30 forming with the side wall28 the space 32, for a purpose referred to below. It will be noted thatthe space 32 extends longitudinally along the chassis through aconsiderable distance, as is apparent from FIG. 2.

Adjacent its front end the chassis has an upwardly and rearwardly'slanting wall portion 34 provided at downwardly extending side regionsthereof with a pair of openings 36 for respectively receiving pins 38 atlower side regions of a windshield-simulating component 40. Thus thiscomponent can readily be assembled with the chassis 22 simply bysnapping the pins 38 into the openings 36.

The one-piece molded plastic body which forms the I chassis 22 includesa pair of front tubular portions 42,

one of which is visible in FIGS. 9 and 10. The chassis also includes,integrally formed with the remainder thereof, a pair of rear tubularportions 44, one of which is visible in FIG. 3. In addition the chassishas integrally formed therewith an intermediate pair of tubular portions46 both of which are visible in FIG. 2, with one of these tubularportions 46 also being indicated in FIG. 8.

A front wheel assembly 48 is carried by the chassis 22 at the fronttubular. portions 42 thereof. This front wheel assembly 48 includes atie rod 50 in the form of an elongated metal rod having a horizontaltransverse portion and a pair of opposed vertical end portions 52. Theseend portions 52 respectively extend up through the tubular parts 54 ofcranks 56. Thus, both the tubular parts 54 of the cranks 56 and thevertically extending portions 52 of the tie rod extend into the tubularportions 42, as is apparent from FIG. 10. The upper ends of the endportions 52 of the tie rod 50 are accessible through openings 58 at thetop front region of the chassis, at the region of the front ends of thefenders of the vehicle, these ends 58 forming the tops of the tubularportions 42. Through these top open ends 58 it is possible to fix to thetop ends of the end portions 52 of the tie rod 50 nuts or caps 60 whichfixedly maintain the tie rod 50 in its assembled position indicated inFIG. 10.

The front wheel assembly 48 further includes a pair of front wheels 62supported on the stub shafts 64 which extend through and are rotatablysupported in the bearings 66 of each crank 56 in the manner shown mostclearly in FIG. 9. Thus each crank 56 has a transverse top wall portionwith a pair of downwardly directed flanges engaging the upper part ofthe stub shaft 64 while the crank arm has lower parts engaging the underside of these stub shafts. Each stub shaft extends through a wheel 62and carries an outer cap 68. At its inner end the stub shaft receives acotter pin 70, so that in this way each wheel is assembled with thecrank 56.

It is apparent, therefore, that all that is required to connect thefront wheel assembly 48 with the chassis is to slip the tie rod 50 atits end portions 52 through the tubular portions at the front ends ofthe cranks 56, as

indicated in FIG. 10, and then these tubular portions together with thetie rod are slipped up into the tubular portions 42 of the chassis,whereupon fasteners are fixed to the top ends of portions 52 of the tierod, and in this simple way the front wheel assembly is attached to thechassis to remain reliably connected therewith.

The steering means 72 includes a transverse bar 74 pivotally connectedat its ends to the ends of the crank arms 56 distant from the tie rod50. It will be noted that FIG. 10 shows an end of the bar 74 pivotallyconnected to the crank arm 56 by a rivet 76. This bar 74 of course comespre-assembled with the crank arms. This bar 74 has intermediate its endsan upwardly extending portion 78 formed with an elongated verticallyextending cutout or slot 80. See also FIG. 11.

The chassis 22 has an additional tubular portion 82 integral with theone-piece body of the chassis and extending downwardly from the fronthood portion 34 thereof. The lower end of the tubular portion 82 isapparent from FIG. 11. It carries in its interior a block 84 which isformed with an inclined bore extending also through the tubular portion82 for receiving the front end of a crank-shaped rotary steering column86 of the steering means 72. Any suitable washer and snap ring or washerand cotter pin is situated adjacent the bottom end of the steeringcolumn 86 for maintaining the parts assembled in the condition shown inFIG. 11.

At its rear edge region, the hood 34 of the chassis is integrally formedwith a downwardly extending angled projection 88 carrying the simulationof an ignition key and formed with an opening for receiving the upperend of the steering column 86. After the steering column is passedthrough the opening of the extension 88 of the chassis 22, a steeringwheel 90 is fastened to the top end of the steering column, as by asuitable nut 92. The cranked portion 94 of the steering column 86 passesthrough the slot 80. Thus when the operator turns the steering wheel 90the column 86 will turn. The cranked portion 94 thereof will shift theextension 78 to the right or left, causing the bar 74 to shift to theright or left, and causing simultaneous turning of the cranks 56 in onedirection or the other, so as to swing these cranks about the verticallyextending end portions 52 of the tie rod 50, thus bringing aboutsteering of the vehicle.

The rotary drive means 96 is in the form of a rotary driving rod 98carrying suitable pedals 99 at cranked portions 101 of this rod. The endportions of the rod 98 extend through the tubular portions 46 in themanner shown most clearly in FIG. 8, and at its outer ends the rod 98carries cotter pins and washers for maintaining the rod 98 rotatablyassembled with the tubular portions 46 which are integral with thechassis 22. The. left tubular portion 46, which is the one illustratedin FIG. 8, is situated adjacent a rotary sprocket wheel of thetransmission means 102 of the invention. This sprocket wheel 100 isfixed to the rod 98 for rotation therewith.

In addition to the sprocket wheel 100, the transmission means 102includes an elongated sprocket chain 104. This sprocket chain 104 has anupper run 106 and a lower run 108 shown respectively in cross section inFIG. 7. It will be noted that these upper and lower runs of the sprocketchain extend longitudinally along the space 32 between the inner sidewall 28 and the outer side wall 30 of the chassis, so that in this waythe transmission of the invention can be situated at an elevation whichis at least as high as and in fact considerably higher than the seat 24.Thus this seat 24 can be situated at an extremely low elevationproviding a better simulation of an actual vehicle and also lowering thecenter of gravity for safety purposes.

The transmission means also includes a rear sprocket wheel 110 whichreceives the chain 104 of the transmission means 102.

This rear sprocket wheel 110 is formed with an axial bore through whicha rear axle 112 extends. This rear axle 112 forms part of a rear wheelassembly 114. Also, the rear wheel assembly includes a pair of rearwheels 116 one of which is formed at its inner hub with bores forreceiving pins 118 integral with and projecting from the sprocket wheel110, so that in this way the drive is transmitted to the rear wheels116. These rear wheels are fixed on the axle 112 which is capable ofturning in bearings 119. The bearings 119 of the rear wheel assembly 114are fixed, as by bolts and nuts 120 to extensions 122. These extensions122 have wall portions 124 formed with openings through which thetubular sleeves 127 which constitute the bearings 119 extend.

The extensions 122 have upwardly extending web portions 126 whichintersect each other perpendicularly so as to provide these portions 126with a X- shaped cross section, most clearly apparent from FIG. 5. Eachof the tubular extensions 44 is provided at its interior with two pairsof directly opposed ribs 128 which receive the opposed edges of one ofthe webs 126 as is most clearly apparent from FIGS. 4 and 5, as well asfrom FIG. 3. The manner in which the tubular portions 44 extendintegrally downwardly from the seat 24 is most clearly apparent fromFIG. 3. The seat 24 is formed at its rear edge portion with a pair ofopenings through which a curved plastic roll bar 130 can extend with thebottom end portions of this bar being received within the tubularportions 44 and deflecting one of the ribs 128 in the manner mostclearly apparent from FIG. 4.

It is thus clear that with the structure described above after the rearwheel assembly 114 has had the components thereof assembled together, itis only necessary for the operator to push the web portions 126 into thetubular portions 44, along the spaces between the ribs 128 thereof, andthrough this simple expedient the entire rear wheel assembly 144 isassembled with the chassis. Of course the chain 104 has already beenplaced around the sprocket wheels before the rear wheel assembly isassembled with the chassis. Then the roll bar 130 may be introducedthrough the rear openings at the seat into the tubular portions 44 sothat the parts will have the positions indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is therefore apparent that with the structure of the invention allthat is required is to assemble various rods or the like through the useof cotter pins and washers, and otherwise components are simplyintroduced into tubular portions of the chassis in which they willremain assembled. For example in the case of the rear wheel assembly, aslong as the vehicle remains in an upright position the downward gravityand the weight of the occupant will keep the tubular portions 44pressing downwardly against the horizontal portions of extensions 122which are situated at the bottom ends of the webs 126 The componentsmaintain the tie rod 50 assembled with the chassis, so that in this waythe entire front wheel assembly is maintained assembled with thechassis. Of course, the steering means will remain assembled with thechassis as a result of the structure shown in FIG. 11.

Thus, with the simple structure described above an extremely safe and atthe same time inexpensive and rugged vehicle is provided to be propelledby the occupant.

What is claimed is:

1. In a miniature, occupant-propelled surface vehicle, a body of sheetmaterial forming a chassis which includes a seat for the occupantand'which has a pair of front tubular portions, a pair of rear tubularportions, and a pair of intermediate tubular portions, a rotary frontwheel assembly connected with chassis at said front tubular portionsthereof, a rotary rear wheel assembly connected with said chassis atsaid rear tubular portions thereof, and a rotary drive means, to berotated by the occupant of the vehicle, and operatively connected withsaid intermediate tubular portions of said chassis, transmission meansoperatively connected with said rotary drive means and extendingtherefrom rearwardly to said rear wheel assembly for transmitting adrive to the latter from said rotary drive means, for propelling thevehicle, and manually operable steering means carried by said chassisand operatively connected with said front wheel assembly for actuatingthe latter to steer the vehicle, said transmission means being situatedat an elevation at least as high as said seat of said chassis, saidchassis having an inner side wall portion extending upwardly from saidseat and an outer side wall portion spaced from said inner side wallportion and defining therewith a space through which said transmissionmeans extends, said rotary drive means being in the form of atransversely extending r0- tary drive rod having cranked portionscarrying pedals to receive the feet of the occupant of the vehicle, saiddrive rod extending through and being rotatably supported by saidintermediate tubular portions of said chassis, said transmission meansincluding a sprocket wheel carried by said rod, a rear axle forming partof said rear wheel assembly, a second sprocket wheel carried by saidrear axle and said rear wheel assembly having a pair of wheels one ofwhich is fixed with said sprocket to rotate therewith, and a sprocketchain extending between and carried by said sprocket wheels fortransmitting the drive from said rotary drive rod to said rear axle andthe rear wheels thereof, said chassis seat being situated at anelevation above which said sprocket chain extends, and said chainextending through said space to the rear sprocket wheel of saidtransmission means.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said rear wheel assemblyincludes a rear axle, a pair of rear wheels operatively connectedtherewith, a pair of bearings through which said axle extends, and apair of extensions extending from said bearings upwardly into the rearpair of tubular portions of said chassis for connecting said rear wheelassembly thereto.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said chassis is formed from aone-piece body of molded plastic sheet material.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein said chassis has at least oneadditional integral tubular portion for forming at least part of asupport for said steering means.

5. In a miniature, occupant-propelled surface vehicle, a body of sheetmaterial forming a chassis which includes a seat for the occupant andwhich has a pair of front tubular portions, a pair of rear tubularportions, and a pair of intermediate tubular portions, a rotary frontwheel assembly connected with chassis at said front tubular portionsthereof, a rotary rear wheel assembly connected with said chassis atsaid rear tubular portions thereof, and a rotary drive means, to berotated by the occupant of the vehicle, and operatively connected withsaid intermediate tubular portions of said chassis, transmission meansoperatively connected with said rotary drive means and extendingtherefrom rearwardly to said rear wheel assembly for transmitting adrive to the latter from said rotary drive means, for propelling thevehicle, and manually operable steering means carried by said chassisand operatively connected with said front wheel assembly for actuatingthe latter to steer the vehicle, said rear wheel assembly including arear axle, a pair of rear wheels operatively connected therewith, a pairof bearings through which said axle extends, and a pair of extensionsextending from said bearings upwardly into the rear pair of tubularportions of said chassis for connecting said rear wheel assemblythereto, said extensions each being composed of a pair ofperpendicularly intersecting webs providing said extensions with anX-shaped cross section, said rear tubular extensions each being providedwith at least two pairs of opposed inwardly extending webs for receivingopposed free edge portions of one of said webs of each extension.

6. In a miniature, occupant-propelled surface vehicle, a body of sheetmaterial forming a chassis which includes a seat for the occupant andwhich has a pair of front tubular portions, a pair of rear tubularportions, and a pair of intermediate tubular portions, a rotary frontwheel assembly connected with chassis at said front tubular portionsthereof, a rotary rear wheel assembly connected with said chassis atsaid rear tubular portions thereof, and a rotary drive means, to berotated by the occupant of the vehicle, and operatively connected withsaid intermediate tubular portions of said chassis, transmission meansoperatively connected with said rotary drive means and extendingtherefrom rearwardly to said rear wheel assembly for transmitting adrive to the latter from said rotary drive means, for propelling thevehicle, and manually operable steering means carried by said chassisand operatively connected with said front wheel assembly for actuatingthe latter to steer the vehicle, said front wheel assembly including atie rod having a lower transverse portion and a pair of opposedvertically extending end portions extending upwardly from opposed endsof said transverse portion into said front tubular portions of saidchassis and releasably fixed to said chassis at said front tubularportions thereof, a pair of cranks respectively swingable on saidvertically extending end portions of said tie rod, also extending intosaid front tubular portions of said chassis, and having crank arms whichextend rearwardly from said end portions of said tie rod, a pair ofwheels rotatabl connected to said cranks adjacenbto said tie rod, an atransverse bar having opposed ends pivotally connected to said arms atportions thereof distant from said tie rod.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said steering means includes arotary steering column turnably carried by said chassis and having asteering wheel accessible to the occupant of the vehicle, said columnhaving a crank portion, and said transverse bar being formedintermediate said crank arms with a eutout receiving said crank arm ofsaid steering column so that when the latter turns said bar is shiftedhorizontally for swinging said cranks in one direction or the other toturn the wheels of said front wheel assembly so as to steer the vehicle.

1. In a miniature, occupant-propelled surface vehicle, a body of sheetmaterial forming a chassis which includes a seat for the occupant andwhich has a pair of front tubular portions, a pair of rear tubularportions, and a pair of intermediate tubular portions, a rotary frontwheel assembly connected with chassis at said front tubular portionsthereof, a rotary rear wheel assembly connected with said chassis atsaid rear tubular portions thereof, and a rotary drive means, to berotated by the occupant of the vehicle, and operatively connected withsaid intermediate tubular portions of said chassis, transmission meansoperatively connected with said rotary drive means and extendingtherefrom rearwardly to said rear wheel assembly for transmitting adrive to the latter from said rotary drive means, for propelling thevehicle, and manually operable steering means carried by said chassisand operatively connected with said front wheel assembly for actuatingthe latter to steer the vehicle, said transmission means being situatedat an elevation at least as high as said seat of said chassis, saidchassis having an inner side wall portion extending upwardly from saidseat and an outer side wall portion spaced from said inner side wallportion and defining therewith a space through which said transmissionmeans extends, said rotary drive means being in the form of atransversely extending rotary drive rod having cranked portions carryingpedals to receive the feet of the occupant of the vehicle, said driverod extending through and being rotatably supported by said intermediatetubular portions of said chassis, said transmission means including asprocket wheel carried by said rod, a rear axle forming part of saidrear wheel assembly, a second sprocket wheel carried by said rear axleand said rear wheel assembly having a pair of wheels one of which isfixed with said sprocket to rotate therewith, and a sprocket chainextending between and carried by said sprocket wheels for transmittingthe drive from said rotary drive rod to said rear axle and the rearwheels thereof, said chassis seat being situated at an elevation abovewhich said sprocket chain extends, and said chain extending through saidspace to the rear sprocket wheel of said transmission means.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 and wherein said rear wheel assembly includes arear axle, a pair of rear wheels operatively connected therewith, a pairof bearings through which said axle extends, and a pair of extensionsextending from said bearings upwardly into the rear pair of tubularportions of said chassis for connecting said rear wheel assemblythereto.
 3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said chassis isformed from a one-piece body of molded plastic sheet material.
 4. Thecombination of claim 3 and wherein said chassis has at least oneadditional integral tubular portion for forming at least part of asupport for said steering means.
 5. In a miniature, occupant-propelledsurface vehicle, a body of sheet material forming a chassis whichincludes a seat for the occupant and which has a pair of front tubularportions, a pair of rear tubular portions, and a pair of intermediatetubular portions, a rotary front wheel assembly connected with chassisat said front tubular portions thereof, a rotary rear wheel assemblyconnected with said chassis at said rear tubular portions thereof, and arotary drive means, to be rotated by the occupant of the vehicle, andoperatively connected with said intermediate tubular portions of saidchassis, transmission means operatively connected with said rotary drivemeans and extending therefrom rearwardly to said rear wheel assembly fortransmitting a drive to the latter from said rotary drive means, forpropelling the vehicle, and manually operable steering means carried bysaid chassis and operatively connected with said front wheel assemblyfor actuating the latter to steer the vehicle, said rear wheel assemblyincluding a rear axle, a pair of rear wheels operatively connectedtherewith, a pair of bearings through which said axle extends, and apair of extensions extending from said bearings upwardly into the rearpair of tubular portions of said chassis for connecting said rear wheelassembly thereto, said extensions each being composed of a pair ofperpendicularly intersecting webs providing said extensions with anX-shaped cross section, said rear tubular extensions each being providedwith at least two pairs of opposed inwardly extending webs for receivingopposed free edge portions of one of said webs of each extension.
 6. Ina miniature, occupant-propelled surface vehicle, a body of sheetmaterial forming a chassis which includes a seat for the occupant andwhich has a pair of front tubular portions, a pair of rear tubularportions, and a pair of intermediate tubular portions, a rotary frontwheel assembly connected with chassis at said front tubular portionsthereof, a rotary rear wheel asseMbly connected with said chassis atsaid rear tubular portions thereof, and a rotary drive means, to berotated by the occupant of the vehicle, and operatively connected withsaid intermediate tubular portions of said chassis, transmission meansoperatively connected with said rotary drive means and extendingtherefrom rearwardly to said rear wheel assembly for transmitting adrive to the latter from said rotary drive means, for propelling thevehicle, and manually operable steering means carried by said chassisand operatively connected with said front wheel assembly for actuatingthe latter to steer the vehicle, said front wheel assembly including atie rod having a lower transverse portion and a pair of opposedvertically extending end portions extending upwardly from opposed endsof said transverse portion into said front tubular portions of saidchassis and releasably fixed to said chassis at said front tubularportions thereof, a pair of cranks respectively swingable on saidvertically extending end portions of said tie rod, also extending intosaid front tubular portions of said chassis, and having crank arms whichextend rearwardly from said end portions of said tie rod, a pair ofwheels rotatably connected to said cranks adjacent to said tie rod, anda transverse bar having opposed ends pivotally connected to said arms atportions thereof distant from said tie rod.
 7. The combination of claim6 and wherein said steering means includes a rotary steering columnturnably carried by said chassis and having a steering wheel accessibleto the occupant of the vehicle, said column having a crank portion, andsaid transverse bar being formed intermediate said crank arms with acutout receiving said crank arm of said steering column so that when thelatter turns said bar is shifted horizontally for swinging said cranksin one direction or the other to turn the wheels of said front wheelassembly so as to steer the vehicle.